A Queensland man is dead and two people are being treated in hospital after they took an "unknown substance" at a music festival north of Sydney on Saturday.
The man, 22, was taken to Gosford Hospital from the Lost Paradise music festival at Glenworth Valley, about 20 kilometres west of Gosford, about 8pm. He died a short time later.
Investigations into his cause of death are continuing.
Police said another man and a woman got sick after they took the substance. They remained in hospital in a stable condition.
Festival organisers Pulse Radio labelled the death at the "drug-free" event "distressing" in a statement on Sunday morning.
“This is a very distressing incident and our sincerest thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the deceased. The matter is the subject of a police investigation and we will continue to cooperate and provide whatever assistance we can," a spokeswoman said.
"Lost Paradise is a strictly drug-free event that is about celebrating life, love and nature in a fun, safe and welcoming environment. A great deal of planning and effort goes into ensuring the safety and welfare of our festival-goers and event staff. We work closely with local police to try to ensure festival-goers respect our drug free policy and NSW Ambulance to provide extensive medical support across the festival site.”
Three young people have already died from suspected drug overdoses at music festivals in NSW in recent months, reigniting debate over policing drugs and pill-testing at the events.
Baulkham Hills teenager Callum Brosnan, 19, died at the Knockout Games of Destiny music festival on December 9.
In September, 23-year-old Joseph Pham and 21-year-old Diana Nguyen died at the Defqon. 1 music festival at Penrith.
About 11,000 people attended Lost Paradise, which started on Friday and finishes on Tuesday.
Police handed 50 revellers court attendance notices for drug possession and charged three people with drug offences.
They included a Drummoyne man, 21, allegedly sprung with 105 MDMA pills. An Elanora Heights man, 23, was found with 80 MDMA pills and 65 bags of cocaine, police said.
They issued seven cautions for cannabis. Police drug dogs have searched 184 people and 97 vehicles at the festival.
Greens MP David Shoebridge said the death again showed why the government should reconsider its position on pill testing.
“The police’s own media release confirmed the problem - a young man died after taking an 'unknown substance'. This is why we need pill testing to reduce the unknowns.
“Both the Coalition and Labor are refusing to call off the dogs and support pill testing, it is so dreadfully sad to see politics failing young people like this.''
“Young people want practical advice, real time accurate information and a government that helps them keep safe, not one who’s only plan is to lecture and punish them."
Megan Gorrey is a reporter at the Sydney Morning Herald. She was previously a reporter at The Canberra Times.
Sally Rawsthorne is a Crime Reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald.
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